Portulaca plant named ‘LAZPRT1707’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct portulaca plant having intense pink and white bicolored, star-patterned flowers.

Botanical classification: Portulaca umbraticola Kunth.

Varietal denomination: ‘LAZPRT1707’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of portulaca plant known by the varietal name ‘LAZPRT1707’. The new variety is the result of a planned breeding program with the purpose of developing a portulaca variety with a novel bicolored flower pattern. ‘LAZPRT1707’ was created via a cross conducted in the Summer of 2010 in Merano, Italy between an unnamed and unpatented Portulaca umbraticola Kunth variety from the breeder's proprietary breeding line 09/35-2 (female parent) and an unnamed and unpatented Portulaca umbraticola Kunth variety (male parent) having white and purple bicolored, star-patterned flowers. The new variety was selected in the Spring of 2011 in Merano, Italy and the first asexual reproduction of the new variety was conducted by cuttings in the Spring of 2012 in Merano, Italy. ‘LAZPRT1707’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

‘LAZPRT1707’ is similar to its female parent in its bicolored star flower pattern, but the pattern of ‘LAZPRT1707’ has better contrast (intense pink and white colors versus purple and cream colors) and a more stable expression than its female parent. Further, ‘LAZPRT1707’ exhibits better branching than its female parent. When ‘LAZPRT1707’ is compared to Portulaca oleracea DUET™ Candy Stripe (patent status not known), the varieties are similar in that they both exhibit bicolored pink and white flowers. However, ‘LAZPRT1707’ has a star flower pattern and DUET™ Candy Stripe has a striped flower pattern. Further, the flowers of ‘LAZPRT1707’ are larger and have a stronger color contrast than the flowers of DUET™ Candy Stripe. ‘LAZPRT1707’ also exhibits a more compact growth habit than DUET™ Candy Stripe.

The following traits distinguish ‘LAZPRT1707’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other portulaca varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Intense pink and white bicolored star flower pattern;     -   2. Good growth habit and vitality;     -   3. Freely branching with pinching not necessary; and     -   4. Excellent heat and drought tolerance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings taken at approximately 4 months of age illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of a flower of the new variety;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a flower of the new variety;

FIG. 3 shows close-up view of a plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 shows a view of a plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety. The data which defines these characteristics were collected in Merano, Italy in the Summer. Plants of the new variety were grown in Merano, Italy in a glass greenhouse under full natural light levels of 60-70 klx in 13 cm pots with a moderate watering regimen, an average day temperature of 18° C., and an average night temperature of 12° C. The color readings and measurements were taken indoors in a greenhouse under natural light on approximately 4 month old plants grown in containers. Color references are primarily to The 1995 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Plant type and use: Annual plant for bed and balcony use. -   Number of days to initiate roots (summer): 10 days at an average of     22° C. -   Number of days to produce a rooted young plant (summer): 24 days. -   Number of days to initiate roots (winter): 14 days at an average of     15° C. -   Number of days to produce a rooted young plant (winter): 28 days. -   Time to finish a flowering plant: Approximately 8-10 weeks. -   Overall plant shape and growth habit: Compact and creeping. -   Plant height: Approximately 15 cm. -   Plant diameter: Approximately 60 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Plant vigor: High. -   Roots:     -   -   Density.—Moderate.         -   Branching.—Freely.         -   Thickness.—Thin.         -   Texture.—Fibrous.         -   Color.—Pale creamy white. -   Branching:     -   -   Habit.—Freely branching from every node without pinching             required.         -   Basal branching.—Present.         -   Lateral branches.—Number: Numerous. Length: About 30 cm.             Diameter: 3-4 mm. Internode length: 2-20 mm. -   Stem:     -   -   Appearance.—Almost round with lateral ridges.         -   Aspect/angle.—Monopodial.         -   Strength.—4 mm.         -   Outer color.—148B, with strong underlying betalain             coloration present.         -   Core color.—185B when cut open.         -   Bark color.—No bark formed.         -   Pubescence.—None present.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous; succulent. -   Foliage:     -   -   Appearance.—Alternate and simple.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Younger leaves are acute: older leaves are slightly             acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length range.—18-25 mm.         -   Width range.—9-12 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, succulent. Lower             surface: Pearly, glabrous, succulent.         -   Pubescence.—None present.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: 137B. Lower surface:             147B. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Generally 147A; with             full sun exposure, a very slight shade of 185B betalain             coloration may be seen on the margins. Lower surface:             Generally 147B; with full sun exposure, a very slight shade             of 185B betalain coloration may be seen on the margins.         -   Veins.—Venation type: Pinnate, almost only midrib is             visible. Color: Upper surface: 147B. Lower surface: 146B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 1-2 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm. Texture: Glabrous             and succulent on both surfaces. Color: Upper surface: 146B.             Lower surface: 146C.         -   Stipule.—None present.         -   Leaf axil.—Fine, yellowish-white hairs are present in the             axillary area that are 1-2 mm in length.

FLOWERS

-   Buds:     -   -   Number of buds per plant.—Numerous.         -   Number of buds per lateral stem.—Usually 3-5 are visible at             differing developmental stages.         -   Shape of individual bud.—Ovoid.         -   Length of individual bud.—Approximately 13 mm one day before             flowering.         -   Width of individual bud.—Approximately 6 mm one day before             flowering.         -   Bud color.—146A to 146B, with strong betalain coloration. -   Natural flowering season at specified location: From mid-Spring to     mid-Autumn in Merano, Italy. -   Time to flowering: 6-8 weeks after potting. -   Inflorescence number per lateral stem: One terminal inflorescence     per lateral stem; usually from 1 or 2, sometimes 3, open at one time     per mature lateral stem. -   Number of flowers per inflorescence: Recurrently flowering with     about 15-30 flowers per inflorescence in a single season. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Description.—Clustered cyme with sessile flowers.         -   Height.—Average of 2-3 cm.         -   Width.—Average of 5 cm. -   Flower:     -   -   Arrangement.—Terminal, surrounded by a whorl of usually 3             leaves.         -   Description.—Single, rotate flowers that face upward; not             persistent; self-cleaning.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower on the plant.—Ephemeral             flowers that last from about 1-3 days on the plant.         -   Lastingness of a cut flower.—Not applicable.         -   Shape.—Pentagonal, rotate, single.         -   Diameter.—About 40-50 mm.         -   Depth (height).—About 15-20 mm.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Fragrance.—None present. -   Petals:     -   -   Appearance.—Distinct and unfused.         -   Arrangement.—Whorl.         -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Cordate.         -   Base.—Square.         -   Margin.—Generally entire; slightly serrate toward the apex.         -   Length.—About 22 mm.         -   Width.—About 18 mm.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper surface (when opening): Intense 74A (pink             area), almost no intermediate yellow area, and 155A (white             area). Lower surface (when opening): 74A (pink area) and             155A (white area). Upper surface (fully opened): Intense 74A             (pink area), almost no intermediate yellow area, and 155A             (white area). Lower surface (fully opened): 74A (pink area)             and 155A (white area). Both surfaces (shriveled after             opening): 72A to 78A. -   Petaloid description: None present. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number per flower.—Two.         -   Appearance.—Opposite.         -   Arrangement.—Free.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—About 11 mm.         -   Width.—About 8 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous, leathery.         -   Mature color.—Upper surface: 147C. Lower surface: 146A to             146B, with strong betalain present.         -   Calyx.—Appearance: Beaker-shaped with 2 lateral ridges.             Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm. -   Peduncle description: None present (sessile flowers). -   Pedicel description: None present. -   Reproductive organs: -   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—About 50-60.         -   Filament.—Length: About 5-6 mm. Color: Purple-red.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Ellipsoid. Length: 1 mm. Color: 25B.         -   Pollen.—Color: 24A. Amount (generally): Average. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—One, parted into 5-6 tentacle-shaped stigmas.         -   Length.—About 10 mm.         -   Style.—Length: About 10 mm. Color: Purple.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Elongated and tentacle-shaped. Color: Purple.         -   Ovaries.—Not visible.

SEEDS/FRUIT

-   Seeds:     -   -   Number per flower.—Up to approximately 40.         -   Diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Color.—Greyish black. -   Fruit:     -   -   Quantity per lateral branch.—Each flower produces one seed             pod.         -   Amount of fruit per plant.—Numerous.         -   Length.—About 4 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Color.—Light green to green.         -   Texture.—Succulent to leathery.         -   Taste.—Not applicable.         -   Number of days to ripening.—7-10.

GENERAL

-   Disease/pest resistance or susceptibility: None observed. -   Cold temperature tolerance: Tolerant to long term exposure of     approximately 10° C.; tolerant to short term exposure of     approximately 5° C. (under a dry water regimen). -   Hot temperature tolerance: Excellent, with no observed upper limit     to date. -   Drought tolerance: Excellent. -   Rain tolerance: Good, may suffer from prolonged water exposure in     soil with poor drainage. -   Wind tolerance: Good, quickly recovers from wind damage as new     flowers open on a daily basis. -   Keeping quality: The entire plant performs very well throughout an     entire Summer with the continuous rotation of blooming ephemeral     flowers. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of portulaca plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 